The election saw a voter turnout of 67.4 per cent as at 5pm, an hour before voting ended.
This was significantly higher than the overall turnout of 53 per cent in 2022, but shy of the 74.5 per cent turnout in 2018.
Turnout was reportedly higher in BN-held seats than PH-held seats.
BN’s landslide win not only strengthens its foothold in Johor.
In June, Zahid had said the snap election was a launchpad for BN to catalyse a wider “blue wave” comeback in the country. Blue is BN’s official colour.
“The Johor state election is the true point of determination. From Johor we rebuild strength, from Johor we reignite the flame of struggle, and from Johor we show that the blue wave is back,” Zahid said on Jun 7 at the Johor BN election machinery launch at EduCity Indoor Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
“We want to send a clear signal to the nation that BN remains relevant, remains strong, and continues to be the people’s choice.”
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday evening before official results were announced, Zahid said BN will continue to cooperate closely with Anwar’s unity government for political stability and Malaysians’ well being.
“We will implement and execute the manifesto we promised to the people of Johor.”
Over at Pulai Spring Resorts where PH supporters gathered to await the results, the mood was subdued.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) election director Amirudin Shari said “PH is committed to fulfilling its role as the opposition” by monitoring the policies of the state government.
PKR is led by Anwar and a component party of PH.
Amirudin, who is also Selangor chief minister, said the Johor election outcome would serve as a “motivation” for PH to strengthen its outreach efforts and engage more communities as it prepares for the 16th General Election (GE16) and the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan state polls.
On what the results could mean for cooperation between PH and BN at the federal level, Amirudin said the unity government’s commitment remained unchanged.
“Everyone in the federal government has already made a promise to make sure the government is intact until the end of its term, when the Prime Minister calls for the next general election,” he said. “That is a promise by BN too.”
